

In Bed With The Right
Adrian Daub and Moira Donegan
On In Bed With the Right hosts Moira Donegan and Adrian Daub welcome a range of scholars and critics to analyze right wing ideas about gender, sex and sexuality – and to plumb the ways in which these ideas persist in and shape our present moment.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 15, 2023 • 1h 2min
Episode 9: Marriage Boosters with Rebecca Traister
Every few years, it seems, a set of academics and pundits discovers marriage as a panacea for a host of social ills — poverty, unhappiness, social cohesion, research assistants. Moira, Adrian and their guest, New York Magazine writer Rebecca Traister, are less-than-excited to report it’s back and just as threadbare as ever. But this time — since this is the 2020s — with a dollop of “this is something the woke left doesn’t want us to talk about”. A long conversation about feminism, capitalism, anti-feminism, the neocons, data and vibes.

Oct 16, 2023 • 1h 8min
Episode 8: Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche, a versatile 19th century thinker known for his ironic style, is discussed in relation to his influence on feminist and reactionary gender movements. The podcast explores Nietzsche's contradictions, his interaction with the feminist movement, and his negative views on women. It also touches on the misinterpretations of his work and the relevance of his ideas in the present moment.

Sep 25, 2023 • 1h 15min
Episode 7: The “Transsexual Empire” with Susan Stryker
Often considered the ur-text of trans-exclusionary feminism, Janice Raymond’s “The Transsexual Empire” came out in 1979, but rehearses a bunch of tropes you could just as well get off JK Rowling’s Twitter feed. In their conversation with historian Susan Stryker, Moira and Adrian explore the very specific milieu from which Raymond and her book emerged — a radical lesbian feminist theology deeply disappointed with the Catholic Church.

Sep 11, 2023 • 1h 47min
Episode 6: Perverts, Creeps and Priests!
This podcast dives deep into the crisis of masculinity, exploring archetypes like the preacher, creep, and pervert. It discusses how these figures manifest in society and their implications for gender dynamics. The conversation critiques conservative ideologies and examines how patriarchy influences political movements. Insights into the relationship between masculinity and religion reveal complex truths about faith and authority. Finally, provocative literary figures remind us how societal perceptions of masculinity continue to evolve, shaping personal and collective identities.

Aug 24, 2023 • 1h 15min
Episode 5: Crisis of Masculinity
A deep dive into the so-called 'crisis of masculinity' reveals its roots in historical ideologies and modern implications. From Silicon Valley's 'creep masculinity' to the struggles of men in education and economics, discussions challenge stereotypes and seek deeper understanding. The conversation touches on the complexities of gender dynamics, racial disparities, and the mental health implications of these societal shifts. Ultimately, it pushes for a nuanced reevaluation of what it means to be a man in today's world.

Aug 7, 2023 • 1h 19min
Episode 4: Fag Hag with Moira and Adrian
Ever since the 1960s, the figure of the “fag hag” — a (mostly) straight woman hanging around gay men — has been a mainstay in and around queer spaces. As a woman who refused heterosexuality she aroused the ire of social conservatives, but also critiques from within the community. In this episode, Moira and Adrian investigate: why did conservatives hate the hag? How radical was this figure really? And is she still a thing?

Jul 24, 2023 • 1h 7min
Episode 3: Susan Sontag with Merve Emre
Susan Sontag (1933- 2004) was a writer, critic and activist, one who isn’t thought of (and didn’t think of herself) as conservative. In this episode, your hosts talk with Prof. Merve Emre to think through Sontag’s writing on gender and on the women’s movement. How do Sontag’s leeriness about identity and identification, her ambivalent attitudes to bodies, sex and beauty, and her elitism land in today’s political climate and landscape?

Jul 10, 2023 • 1h 23min
Episode 2: Midge Decter with Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell
Midge Decter (1927-2022) has often been called the "grandmother of neoconservatism" -- hers was in some ways a pretty classic trajectory, from New Deal liberalism to profound unease with the social movements of the 1960s, to the center of the conservative movement and Republican politics. But unlike most of her fellow neocons, Midge Decter always framed her trajectory quite openly in terms of gender: repulsion from a certain kind of women's liberation, and attraction to a certain kind of masculinity. In this episode, Moira and Adrian delve into the weird, cantankerous world of Midge Decter with the co-hosts of Know Your Enemy, Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell.

16 snips
Jul 10, 2023 • 1h 40min
Episode 1: Gay Marriage with Moira and Adrian
Moira and Adrian explore the impact of right-wing contributions to the gay marriage debate, its relevance and persistence, and the challenges it presents to traditional institutions. They discuss the history, perception, and progression of same-sex marriage in the US, as well as the relationship between marriage, religion, and natural law. The podcast also touches on the journey of columnist Maggie Gallagher and the views of legal philosopher Robert George. They explore the concept of complementarity in gay relationships, critique assumptions about sex, and delve into the evolution of marriage and arguments against gay marriage, challenging notions of natural law.

Jul 10, 2023 • 2min
In Bed With The Right - Trailer!
Get a sneak-peek at the all new, upcoming show In Bed With The Right hosted by Adrian Daub and Moira Donegan.